July 27, 2007 Just when it looked like the headlong rush towards more MegaPixels had slowed down in favor of greater optical zoom capabilities in the compact camera arena, Fujifilm has announced the upcoming release of the F50fd - a compact unit that boasts a staggering 12 MegaPixel image resolution and crams in a raft of cutting edge features including Dual Image Stabilization, enhanced Face Detection and improved automated flash capabilities that include a two shot flash mode which takes two shots in quick succession in low light - one with flash one without - to ensure optimum results with minimum effort and takes full advantage of its extremely sensitive ISO levels of up to 6400 (1600 at full resolution). The F50fd is among four new additions to the FinePix F series due for release in September and will retail for around US$300 - compare this to the more than $10K outlay required to purchase a 1.3 megapixel camera like the Kodak DCS-100 in the early 1990's and it's clear just how very far the industry has come in less than two decades.